Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has said he believes there is no other way to provide abortion in the cases of rape and incest without allowing for terminations on request up to 12 weeks.
Speaking on Thursday morning at Leinster House, Mr Doherty said he would make his personal position known to the Sinn Féin leadership at a meeting of the ardchomhairle next week.
That meeting will decide whether the party can hold an ardfheis ahead of the referendum to alter its current stance.
Mr Doherty stressed the party’s current position to allow for terminations in certain cases can only be met by what is proposed by the Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment, which is to allow for abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Mr Doherty said the “key focus for me and the party is the repeal of the Eighth Amendment”.
The party’s justice spokesman, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said he personally supports the proposition to allow for abortions up to 12 weeks and hopes the party can facilitate an ardfheis “as soon as is possible”.
Sinn Féin currently supports terminations in the cases of rape, incest, fatal foetal abnormalities and when a mother’s life. health or mental health is at risk.
However, leader Mary Lou McDonald, health spokeswoman Louise O’Reilly and a number of other TDs have confirmed their belief the party should alter its stance to supporting terminations up to 12 weeks, in line with the proposition from the Government.
It had been expected an ardfheis would take place before May to allow for the party to campaign in that vein, but that appears unlikely.
Ms McDonald will bring forward a proposal to the ardchomhairle next Monday to outline her intentions in this area.
Mr Doherty, who is deputy leader in the Dáil, said Sinn Féin’s position will be clear and the party will not be found wanting.
He was also asked about the decision of two Sinn Féin TDs to attend a rally in support of the Eighth Amendment.
“It is up to individuals to decide whether they want to participate in events or not. The party is very clear that the party votes in one way in relation to this issue, but we are very mindful that people have different views within the party not just elected [representatives] but members of the party,” Mr Doherty said.
“This issue has been discussed year after year at our party’s ardfheis, and the position of the party is the current position, and that position is that elected member votes in accordance with the party.”
